Alex Ovechkin played the final two games of the Capitals’ first-round series against New York with a hairline fracture in his left foot, according to a league source with direct knowledge of the winger’s injury.

In games six and seven, Ovechkin scored no points and recorded just six shots on goal.

Despite the injury, which will require only rest to heal, Alex Ovechkin played for his country at the World Championship in Helsinki. Despite scoring an goal and an assist in his only game with Team Russia, Ovechkin was eliminated from the tournament.

The injury reveals a sometimes-hidden truth. Shot-blocking, while considered a sign of commitment, is often dangerous or reckless move. In order to stop a low-risk shot by RyanMcDonagh (whose lifetime shooting percentage is a lowly 5.2%), Ovechkin actually hurt his team by impairing the skating ability of its best player.

I’m pretty sure the coaches could have sat him if they’d felt he was a liability. That’s what coaches do, after all.

Jeeper

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FStreetFaithful

This happens every year. Within the week after a team is eliminated, it comes out just how banged up some of the players were. Meanwhile, the team moving on obviously does not disclose these. I’m sure there were some Rangers playing through injuries, and still are. There will be players lifting the Cup this year who were probably injured in the first series. In the end, you can’t judge his decision based on what we know now. If Ovechkin doesn’t block that shot, and a goal comes from it, we would be talking about how he doesn’t sacrifice enough. No different than when Ovi goes for the blind behind-the-back passes. If he hits Mike Green for a goal, we call him a genius. If it send the opposing team the other way, it’s selfish.

Wow so everyone who got on him for not playing defense in game 3 is now angry he played defense and did what a captain should do and led by example in blocking a shot and is now getting ridiculed for that. I’m so sick of all these bandwagon fans who know nothing about how to play the game and didnt even start watching the caps until ovechkin came to town. Everything he does e gets criticized for because the expectations are way to high for any player and fans in dc have become spoiled.

A low risk shot? Are you considering the implications the shot not being blocked resulting in a deflection and a close-in Ranger with a higher shooting percentage potting a goal off of the “low percentage shooter’s” getting the puck to the net area? What about the possibilty of “momentum changing” when a player has this type up shift, laying everything on the line?

Did he know he was injured? If so, maybe this is what Ribiero meant when he said Ovi “has a lot to learn”? Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying Ovi is a horrible hockey player – he’s quite amazing, actually. And I’m not trying to take away from the fact that he was putting himself out there to make sure the Caps were winning games. But if you’re injured, you’re doing your team more of an injustice by staying in the game and not playing at 100%. And it’s not just Ovi that needs to be reprimanded for this – Oates, or any other coach or player, really should have the balls to say, “hey, Ovi doesn’t look right, he needs to be checked out.” and pull him out so that a healthy player can get out there in his place and play. Ovi may not have liked it, but the health of your players should always come before winning games. The Caps really shouldn’t be relying on a single player – whether it be Ovi or anyone else – to win. They have a really good roster, athletically, but their mental game is what makes or breaks them. Whether they win or lose, they do it together.

I dunno, pardon my ramblings. It’s all “shoulda, coulda, woulda”s at this point. I hope Ovi gets better and he gets back out there soon, better than 100%.

This happens to every team, multiple times, every year. It has nothing to do with the recurring Game 7 no-show nightmares, which seems to be a franchise tradition and should be our only concern at this point.

Mike

I Don’t think questioning his ability to play at below 100% is really an issue considering he was one of the few players who came out flying in game 7. He really brought it in the last game and if I’m not mistaken led the game in hits by far, might have been in double digits midway through the 2nd. Would have been nice to see a few more goals but that’s always gonna be tough when nicky and mojo are so hesitant to shoot.

Ghenghiz Cohen

It was completely irresponsible. Should have notified the coach. It was bad enough, all the turnovers. But this was the frozen limit, to be sure.